Revitalised McIlroy ready for US Open

Ror-ing to go: Following his practice round McIlroy revealed he thinks players can go under par at Congressional

Charity work and recent form offers Rory sense of perspective

In the first major since his Masters disaster, a recharged Rory McIlroy has arrived at Congressional CC in a positive frame of mind, ready to dispel memories of his calamity at Augusta at this week’s US Open.

A recent charity mission to the earthquake-ravaged island of Haiti on behalf of Unicef has invigorated McIlroy’s outlook, where amidst the ruin and desolation, the young Ulsterman was reminded of his privileged position.

“I thought I had perspective before going to Haiti, and then actually seeing it, it just gives you a completely different view on the world and the game that you play,” said McIlroy.

“It just makes you feel so lucky that I’m able just to sit here and drink a bottle of water, just the normal things that everyone does that you take for granted.”

His good form has further imbued his optimism – he tied for fifth at The Memorial a fortnight ago – and the 21-year-old feels that though the USGA decide to set up Congressional a little tougher come Thursday, it is still a course amenable to good play.

“The way it’s set up at the minute is a little more scorable than the previous two U.S. Opens that I’ve played,” said the world No.8.

“I’m not sure how much different the golf course is going to be on Thursday, but definitely at the minute you feel as if you can make a few birdies out there.

“They’ll obviously try to firm up the course from the weekend onwards. But I think you can see yourself shooting something in the 60s out here. I don’t know if you’ll be able to do that every day.

“I reckon a little under par might win it this week.”

Inevitably, questions arose regarding McIlroy’s calamitous back nine on Sunday at The Masters. However, typical of his generally resilient character, the 21-year-old from Hollywood chose to consider the experience as educational, rather than damaging.

“No doubt it was a great experience for me. I took the positives from that week,” he said.

“There wasn’t many positives to take from the Sunday. It’s hard, it’s the first time in that situation. You’re going to be feeling the pressure a little bit, and I certainly did.

“I felt a little differently on the Sunday than I had done the previous few days, but that’s natural. You’re going to be natural. You’re in with a great chance to win your first major and it just doesn’t happen.

“You just move on; that’s all you can do. It’s not the end of the world. You analyze it, you pick things from it you think you could have done better. And when you get yourself into that position again you try and put those things that you want to do better into practice.

“I just felt a little tentative throughout the whole day. I wasn’t quite as free flowing as it was the first few days.”

McIlroy will play the first two days with Dustin Johnson, who had a similarly calamitous final round when leading last year’s US Open, and Phil Mickelson, the eternal US Open bridesmaid.

Also reminded of Nick Watney’s collapse in the final round of the USPGA, McIlroy was questioned whether he thought the emerging generation of golfers – such as Johnson, Watney and himself – had what it took not just to vie for majors, but to finish the job.

“I think we all expect ourselves to get in contention for majors,” McIlroy said of the new generation. “I don’t think you have to pinch yourself or do anything like that.

“That’s why we practice and that’s why we play, to get ourselves in that position. And I think the more you get yourself into that position, the more you’ll be able to deal with it better.

“And I think that’s all I really have to do, just keep getting myself in those positions, and sooner or later it will fall my way. And when it does, I’ll have the memories and the experience of that to fall back on when I get myself into positions like that again.”

Playing with Phil Mickelson should be a reminder to both McIlroy and Johnson that despite major blips early in their careers, their talent will prevail.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor